MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.(Oct. 10, 2003) -- Marine medium helicopter squadrons aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar are losing valuable CH-46 technicians and specialists, including crew chiefs, mechanics, airframe mechanics and communications and navigations technicians, to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, the MV-22 Osprey training program at Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Deitz, career retention specialist, is the Marine who processes the re-enlistment and lateral move packages for the MV-22 Osprey hopefuls for HMM-165.

"They'll be missed," Deitz said of the Marines who have already been sent to the new aviation program. "We've been losing Marines to B-Billets such as Drill Instructor duty, or other specialties like advanced avionics and ordnance schools," he explained.

Most Marines who have already left the "Frog" squadrons for MV-22 schools did not want to go to the new military occupational specialty, but did not have much of a choice, according to Deitz.

"They wanted to stay Marine," Deitz explained. "For some of them, their only options were to move to another non-flying MOS or get out. None of them wanted to do that, so the Osprey program became a good thing."

The aviation Marines won't leave the CH-46 squadrons empty-handed - in some cases, a re-enlistment for an Osprey package could earn an aviator thousands of dollars. Although they may be eligible for a service re-enlistment bonus as CH-46 Marines, the bonuses for a "Frog" Marine crossing over to the new tiltrotor MOS are substantially higher to lure new Marines to the fledgling school.

"Some of the Marines looking to lateral move into an Osprey MOS, such as avionics, could qualify for a $30,000 bonus," explained Deitz, a Eugene, Ore., native.

Contributing factors such as better pay, family needs or career concerns can also dictate a CH-46 Marine's decision to join the new job field, according to Deitz.

"I'm sure it will be a little bit of a break," Deitz said of the operation tempo for the Marines who are going to the tiltrotor school. Several of the Marine Corps' HMM squadrons have seen consistent use during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or have been deployed as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit or training missions throughout the world.

In the last 12 months alone, Marine Corps CH-46s have been used in training with Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, sent to conduct noncombatant evacuation operations in Liberia and perhaps most famously, the rescue of former Prisoner Of War Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch. The "Frog" crews have been working on the same aircraft since the Vietnam War; their knowledge of the veteran aircraft has been hard earned and passed down through decades of training.

"We're not necessarily getting the same experience back when we lose those Marines, but they've trained their replacements; I feel confident they can do their job," said Deitz.

Deitz explained the new tiltrotor Marines have a long future to look forward to with their new MOSs.

"They're in a fortunate time line," explained Deitz. "They'll be the first in a new aircraft. When the CH-46 phases out, these Marines will be the senior (staff noncommissioned officers) with valuable experience of two different types of similar aircraft," Deitz explained.

Meanwhile, back at the CH-46 hangars, the HMM squadrons keep flying. Sergeant Thomas T. Stuckenschneider, avionics technician, HMM-165, said his shop will be able to keep working, even without the "old school" CH-46 Marines' experience.

"For us, it's no different than losing another Marine to (end of active service,)" Stuckenschneider explained. "The worst part for us is losing the experience those Marines had."

As long as the Marine Corps is able to keep sending the appropriate number of junior Marines to replace those lost, Stuckenschneider said the HMM squadrons will be able to conduct business as usual.

"I think it's good for them for going," Stuckenschneider said of the career opportunity. "Just like any other job field, we're always short on Marines, but we've learned to make do."

Just as there was skepticism and doubt about the CH-46 program at its conception in 1964, the MV-22 program has seen its fair share of uncertainty, but appears to be well on its way to becoming the Marine Corps' medium-lift aircraft.

Story by Sgt. M. P. Shelato
MCAS Miramar